Australian plantation statistics update 2022-23

Overview

Australian plantation statistics is published every year. It supports strategic forest industry planning and decision-making by presenting information on total plantation area, new planting and ownership.

The plantation areas are presented by jurisdiction and National Plantation Inventory regions for softwood and hardwood plantation types, and species, based on data collected from private growers and grower representatives and public state and territory agencies.

In this report, 2022-23 data are compared with data from the 2004-05, 2009-10, 2014-15, 2019-20 amd 2021-22 5 yearly spatial plantation reports (5 and 1 year intervals).

A high resolution version of the Australian Plantation statistics 2023 - Infographic is available in the download section below.

Table 1 The total reported plantation area declined marginally in 4 jurisdictions in 2022-23

State/Territory2004-052009-102014-152019-202021-222022-23

Change
2021-22 to 2022-23

 (’000 ha)(’000 ha)(’000 ha)(’000 ha)(’000 ha)(’000 ha)(%)
New South Wales331.6391.3393360.1347.1349.60.7%
Victoria384.6430.5423386.6380.9381.30.1%
Queensland225.6230.6230.4205.4205.4205.40.0%
South Australia167188.3178.8172.3164.6164.60.0%
Western Australia377.6413.3383.4309.8290.6289.8-0.3%
Tasmania227.2309.1309.8282.5278.5271.8-2.5%
Northern Territory16.338.147.649.340.137.2-7.5%
Aust. Capital Territory9.57.77.48.78.88.6-2.9%
Australia1,739.42,008.91,973.41,774.71716.01708.4-0.4%

Note: 2004-05, 2009-10, 2014-15 and 2019-20 are 5 yearly spatial figures, 2021-22 and 2022-23 are annual update figures.

Figure 1: The area of Australia’s softwood plantation estate remained stable in 2022-23, with the rate of decline in hardwood plantation area easing compared to past years

Column graph showing the area of Australia’s softwood plantation estate remained stable in 2022-23, with the rate of decline in hardwood plantation area easing compared to past years

Source: ABARES

Figure 2: In 2022-23, 4500 hectares of new plantations were established

Line graph shows that in 2022-23, 4500 hectares of new plantations were established

Source: ABARES

Table 2 New South Wales accounted for the majority of softwood plantations established in 2022-23 while most hardwood plantations were established in Tasmania

 

2021–22

2022–23

State/TerritorySoftwood
(’000 ha)		Hardwood
(’000 ha)		Total
(’000 ha)		Softwood
(’000 ha)		Hardwood
(’000 ha)		Total
(’000 ha)
New South Wales0.40.00.42.90.02.9
Victoria0.20.20.40.50.20.8
Queensland0.00.00.00.00.00.0
South Australia0.00.00.00.00.00.0
Western Australia0.60.00.60.40.20.6
Tasmania0.00.00.00.00.30.3
Northern Territory0.00.80.80.00.00.0
Aust. Capital Territory0.00.10.10.00.00.0
Australia1.11.22.33.80.74.5

Source: ABARES

Figure 3: In 2022-23 New South Wales continues to have the largest share of national softwood plantations and Tasmania the largest share of national hardwood plantations.

Column graph shows In 2022-23 New South Wales continues to have the largest share of national softwood plantations and Tasmania the largest share of national hardwood plantations

Source: ABARES

Figure 4: Softwood plantations are predominately radiata pine in southern Australia, while southern pines are planted in northern New South Wales and Queensland, hoop pine are planted in Queensland and maritime pine is planted in drier parts of Western Australia.

Column graph shows softwood plantations are predominately radiata pine in southern Australia, while southern pines are planted in northern New South Wales and Queensland, hoop pine are planted in Queensland and maritime pine is planted in drier parts of Western Australia

Source: ABARES

Figure 5: The majority of Tasmanian blue gum and shining gum hardwood plantations are managed for pulplog production, North Coast and Tasmania are the regions with most hardwood plantations managed for sawlog production.

Column graph shows the majority of Tasmanian blue gum and shining gum hardwood plantations are managed for pulplog production. North Coast and Tasmania are the regions with most hardwood plantations managed for sawlog production

Source: ABARES

Figure 6: Institutional investors owned 60% of the plantation estate in 2022-23.

Column graph shows Institutional investors owned 60% of the plantation estate in 2022-23

Source: ABARES
Note: An institutional investor is a company that invests money on behalf of other people such as a Superannuation fund.

Figure 7: New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are the only jurisdictions where tree ownership is predominately publicly owned.

Column graph shows New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are the only jurisdictions where tree ownership is predominately publicly owned

Source: ABARES